Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

The Company records its financial instruments, principally derivative instruments, at fair value in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company estimates the fair value using quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon models that use market-based parameters as inputs, including forward curves, discount rates, volatilities and nonperformance risk. Nonperformance risk considers the effect of the Company’s credit standing on the fair value of liabilities and the effect of the counterparty’s credit standing on the fair value of assets. The Company estimates nonperformance risk by analyzing publicly available market information, including a comparison of the yield on debt instruments with credit ratings similar to the Company’s or counterparty’s credit rating and the yield of a risk-free instrument and credit default swaps rates where available.

The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities recorded at fair value into a three-level fair value hierarchy, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). Assets and liabilities in Level 2 primarily include the Company’s swap and collar agreements. There were no transfers between Level 1 and 2 during the periods presented. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 during the periods presented. The Company recognizes transfers between Levels as of the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer.

The fair value of the commodity swaps included in Level 2 is based on standard industry income approach models that use significant observable inputs, including New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) forward curves, LIBOR-based discount rates, basis forward curves and propane forward curves. The Company’s collars and options are valued using standard industry income approach option models. The significant observable inputs utilized by the option pricing models include NYMEX forward curves, natural gas volatilities and LIBOR-based discount rates. The NYMEX forward curves, LIBOR-based discount rates, natural gas volatilities, basis forward curves and propane forward curves are validated to external sources at least monthly.

The following assets and liabilities were measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the applicable period:



			Fair value measurements at reporting date using
Description	As of June 30, 2016		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
	(Thousands)
Assets
Derivative instruments, at fair value	$	136,591	$	—	$	136,591	$	—

Liabilities
Derivative instruments, at fair value	$	110,960	$	—	$	110,960	$	—



			Fair value measurements at reporting date using
Description	As of December 31, 2015		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
	(Thousands)
Assets
Derivative instruments, at fair value	$	417,397	$	—	$	417,397	$	—

Liabilities
Derivative instruments, at fair value	$	23,434	$	—	$	23,434	$	—

The carrying value of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, amounts due to/from related parties and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments. The carrying value of borrowings under EQM’s credit facility approximates fair value as the interest rates are based on prevailing market rates.

The Company estimates the fair value of its debt using its established fair value methodology. Because not all of the Company’s debt is actively traded, the fair value of the debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement. Fair value for non-traded debt obligations is estimated using a standard industry income approach model which utilizes a discount rate based on market rates for debt with similar remaining time to maturity and credit risk. The estimated fair value of total debt (including EQM’s long-term debt) on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was approximately $3.0 billion at June 30, 2016 and $2.8 billion at December 31, 2015. The carrying value of total debt (including EQM’s long-term debt) on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was approximately $2.8 billion at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details